Apparatus for blending fiber



April 29, 1952 A. RuNToN 2,594,590

APPARATUS FOR BLENDING FIBER Filed May 25, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l @4A M A Uzvneys April 29, 1952 A. RUNTON APPARATUS RoR BLENDING FIBER 5 SheetsfSheet 2 Filed May 25, 1949 y Hem swf@ @Wwf L/aweys April 29, 1952 A. RUNTON APPARATUS FOR. BLENDING FIBER a 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1949 Zez'e :H y #am SMMEMM April 29, 1952 L. A. RUNTON APPARATUS FOR BLENDING FIBER Iawzaoaf:

L. A. RUNTON APPARATUS FOR BLENDING FIBER April 29, 1952 `5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1949 Leuze @im y #aa/wa smsww ufrzeys Patented Apr. 29, 1952 2,594,590 APPARATUS FOR BLENDING FIBER Leslie A. Runton, Dracut, Mass., assignor to J. P.

Stevens & Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,357

This invention relates to an apparatus for the blending of nbre.

Fibre has long been blended by hand by scattering the nbre in sections over the floor and repeating the process until a layer has been built up and vthis general procedure has also been carried out by feeding the nbre to a conveyor consisting of a long bank of rolls. These rolls are driven in one direction to advance the fibre. Then `alternate rolls are stopped and driven in the opposite direction and the nbre is fed downward between pairs of rolls thus rotating in opposite directions and discharged in sections on the floor beneath or upon a traveling belt. This operation is repeated until a layer of libre of desired thickness is built up.

The object of the present invention is to secure a proper and eicient blending of the nbre while enabling the operation to proceed rapid-ly and with the maximum economy. The broad principle of the invention, which may be carried out with and embodied in different types of apparatus, resides in causing the fibre in sheet form constantly to advance, to be divided into sections ywhile advancing, and then these sections t be discharged downward while still advancing. In other words, the principle involved is the continual movement of the nbre from the time the i operation is begun in an advancing direction while it is being divided and until it reaches the iioor or support upon which the blending takes place. Thus there is no reversal of the movement of the nbre and no reversal of movement of the conveyor during the entire operation. It is this principle which enables the operation to be carried out at high speed and the iibre to be blended eiiiciently and economically.

The apparatus of the present invention is sub` sidiary tothis broad principle disclosed and made the subject of claims in an application filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 95,356, lled May 25, '1949. In the embodiment of this broad principle the apparatus of the present invention comprises essentially a conveyor comprising a series of parallel rolls'to which the libre is fed and-in which all the rolls are rotated only in one direction, with the rolls positioned in a `substantially horizontal plane and spaced to support and advance in sheet form the nbre fed thereto, to-

` gether with means actuated, each time the sheet l`of nbre advanced by the rolls reaches a predetermined point, to eiiect a relative bodily move- 14 Claims. (Cl. 19-146) 2 Various forms of apparatus embodying this principle, each of which also embodies novel and subsidiary features of the invention, are disclosed herein.

' The nature and objects of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanying description and drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention are in more or less diagrammatic form and with only those features shown in detail which are necessary to an understanding of the different forms of apparatus.`

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the main elements of one form of apparatus together with a section for expanding into sheet form and feeding bre in sheet form thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with the rolls of the conveyor indicated in the position for downward discharge of the sheet of nbre separated into sections, the relative movement of adjacent rolls of the series in this form being a relative bodily movement. [It is to be understood that only a small portion of the series of rolls are shown in this and the preceding iigure. This ligure also indicates a belt upon which the sections of libre are discharged. but it will be understood that such a belt when used would be placed much further below the series of ro1ls.l

Fig. 3 is a view mainly in longitudinal vertical cross section and partially broken away of one of the rolls of the series;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a group of the rolls indicated in the preceding figures, and illustrating the mechanism for effecting relative bodily movement of adjacent rolls of the series, with the rolls shown in position for supporting and advancing the fibre in sheet form;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the rolls in the position occupied for separating the sheet of fibre into sections and discharging the sections while advancing downward; i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the main features ofi a second form of apparatus, with the central portion broken away and of a type in which alternate rolls are given a bodily vertical movement with respect to the other rolls to effect the separation of the sheet of nbre into sections and the discharge of the sections while advancing downward;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the alternate rolls vertically displaced with the sheet of fibre separated into sections and advancing downward;

Figs. 8, 9, and illustrate a third form of apparatus in which the series of parallel rolls have their ends journaled and mounted to slide in a substantially horizontal plane, and in which a relative bodily movement of the adjacent rolls is secured by separating the rolls in the same plane, Fig. 8 being a top plan view of a portion of one side partially in horizontal cross section, Fig. 9 being a side elevation With the rolls 1n position for supporting and advancing the sheet of iibre, and Fig. 10 being a side elevation with the rolls spaced to separate the sheet of bre into sections and discharge the sections while advancing downward. i

The fibre to be blended is fed in substantial sheet form to the series of rolls of the conveyor and any suitable means for thus forming the fibre into substantially sheet form and feeding it may be employed. In Figs. 1 and 2 the left hand portion illustrates one form of mechanism for this purpose. In this form a series of arcuate bars, herein shown as eleven in number, with the rst of these bars beginning at the left hand bar I and ending at the right hand bar 2 gradually increasing both in length and in radius of curvature until the right hand bar 2 extends in approximate parallelism to the rolls of the conveyor, are mounted on curved supports 3 of the frame of the machine. On each bar is rotarily mounted by suitable bearings, not shown, a shell 4 `of circular cross section of flexible material, such as rubber, and these shells are simultaneously rotated by suitable mechanism with the result that fibre deposited at the left hand end of the series is gradually advanced and spread out into substantially sheet form and delivered in that form to the rolls of the conveyor. But it is to be understood that the fibre may be delivered in sheet form by any other means such as from an endless apron or belt as hereinafter illustrated.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive there are two series of rolls each of which is continuously rotated by suitable means and each of which for that purpose may have the construction illustrated more in detail in Fig. 3. Alternate rolls 5, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. are `mounted at their ends on brackets 6 secured to supports 'I at opposite sides of the frame Which supports may be a continuation of the curved supports 3. Alternating with the rolls 5 are the rolls 8 and these rolls at their ends are shown mounted at each side in the upper arms of bell crank levers 9 fulcrumed at I0 coaxially with the rolls 5 on the bracket 5. Suitable means are provided for simultaneously operating the bell crank levers so as to swing the rolls 8 vertically between the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The construction of each of the rolls 5 and 8 is preferably the same and one of the rools 5 is illustrated in Fig. 3 together with an electric motor for rotating the roll. In this construction the electric motor Il is secured to a disk-shaped base I2 having a central projecting shaft I3 rigidly secured, as by the set screw I4, in one of the brackets 6. A shaft I5 in axial alinemen*J with the shaft I3 is journaled in the upper end of the opposite bracket 6. The surface of the roll is shown as a cylindrical metal shell I5 and is preferably provided with a plurality of longitudinally projecting flanges I'I. This shell is mounted on and secured to a plurality of disks I8 pinned to the shaft I5 and the shell at the end extends over and close to the disk I2. The motor I I is held in axial alinement with the shaft I5 by means of an arm I9 secured to the motor and projecting therefrom with one raceway 2U of a ball bearing secured to the arm I9 and cooperating with the other member of the ball bearing secured to the shaft I5. The shaft of the m-otor has secured thereto a pinion 2l meshing with an internal gear 22 secured to the shell I6 of the roll. The motor is energized by current connected at 23. It will thus be seen that the motor when driven acts to rotate the roll about its central axis.

The rolls extend in a long series to any required extent and a series of about iifty rolls has been found desirable. Since the action is the same throughout only the last three pairs of rolls are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. These rolls, as by means of electric motors, are all continuously rotated in one direction and in the position shown in Fig. 4 are positioned in a substantially horizontal plane and spaced so as to support and advance in sheet form the bre fed thereto. Periodically the series of rolls 8, while all the rolls are still rotating, are moved bodily vertically upward by the simultaneous operation of the bell crank levers 9 to a position such as indicated in Fig. 5 with the result that the sheet of bre is separated into sections and while still advancing is discharged downward, usually with the sections feeding down off the rolls 8 on to the rolls 5. and then down.

This periodic movement of the rolls to separate the sheet of fibre into sections may be determined as desired. Preferably it is determined by the edge of the advancing sheet of fibre reaching the end of the series and engaging an actuating means, such as an electric eye mechanism, illustrated diagrammatically at 24.

So also the mechanism for operating the bell crank levers 9 may take any suitable form. In the construction illustrated in each case the lower arm 25 of the bell crank lever is pivoted to a piston rod 26 of a piston mounted in a cylinder 21 pivoted at 28 to the side frame 1. The opposite ends of the cylinder are connected to a valve 29 connected in turn by a pipe 30 to a suitable source of compressed air. The valve 29 is connected by an arm 3l to the core of a solenoid 32. The indication given by the electric eye 24, or by whatever means may be employed, is caused by suitable electric connections to actuate the solenoidV 28 to actuate the valve 29 and admit air to the cylinder to move the piston from the position shown in Fig, 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, and then to admit the air to the other end of the cylinder and reverse the operation. This action takes place practically momentarily because the fibres are advancing rapidly and the separated sections of fibre are quickly discharged downward.

Thus it will be seen that the sheet of fibre fed to the conveyor is constantly advancing until it reaches the floor or support beneath the apparatus to form the blend. This advancing movement therefore occurs while the sheet of fibre is being separated into sections and in this form of the invention the separation into sections is effected by a relative movement, in this case a relative bodily movement, and more particularly a relative bodily vertical movement, of the adjacent rolls of the series which takes place while the fibre is still advancing.

A second form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This construction is generally similar to that of the rst form already described the principal differencev being that in effecting the separation of the sheet of fibre into sections one series consisting of alternate rolls is moved vertically in astraight line with the moved rolls carried by a support moving as a unit.

In this construction a framework shown as having side bars 69 with vertical struts 6| is secured to the ceiling or other support with the frame extending horizontally. One series of rolls 62 is supported in brackets 63 depending from the bars 68 of the frame. The other series of alternate rolls 64 are supported in brackets 65 mounted on a horizontal frame having side members 66. Here again only a portion of the long series of vrolls is illustrated. Each of the rolls is illustrated as of the same construction as shown in Fig. 3 and previously described, and the motors of all the rolls are actuated by the current supplied thereto to cause all the rolls to rotate in the same direction. v

The lower frame carrying the rolls 64 is mounted on vertical piston rods 'i, the pistons of which are controlled by cylinders 68 supported on a suitable rigid base 69. As described in connection with the previous formcompressed air is supplied through the pipes 'IG to a valve 1i having connections 12 and i3 to the opposite ends of the'cylinder and this valve is provided with an arm 'i4 operated by a solenoid 15. y l l With all the rolls standing in ,a substantially horizontal plane, as indicated in Fig. 6,*the flbre is fed in any suitable manner as from the endless conveyor belt 'I6 to the rolls so as to lie in substantial sheet form and thereupon is steadily advanced by the rotation of the rolls. When the leading portion of the sheet of fibre reaches a predetermined point the valves 'il are actuated to cause the frame carrying the rolls 64 to move vertically downward momentarily to a position such as shown in Fig. 7 and then to return to the position shown in Fig. 6. The operation of the Valves il to effect this movement may be determined by any suitable means but again is assumed to be determined by the advancing edge of the sheet of fibre actuating an electric eye mechanism 11 which in turn controlsthe action of the solenoids 15.

Thus it will be seen that the sheet of libre fed to the conveyor is constantly advancing until it reaches the oor or support beneath the apparatus to form the blend. This advancing movement therefore occurs while the sheet of fibre is being separated into sections and in this form of the invention'the separation into sections is Aeffected by a relative movement, in this case a vrelative bodily movement, and more particularly a relative bodily vertioalstraight line movement, of the adjacent rolls of the series ywhich takes place while the fibre is Still advancing.

A third form of apparatus embodying the in- 'vention is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and l0.

In this form the rolls of the conveyor remain in the substantially horizontal plane, both in the position in which the sheet of nbre is advanced bythe rollsA in sheet form` and in the-position in which the fibre is separated into sections and the sections discharged downwardly while still advancing. In this case the rolls are brought to the latter position to effect the separation of the sheet of fibre into sections by a relative bodily movement acting to space adjacent rolls further apart than in the position while advancing the fibre in sheet form and preferably this movement tojeifect the. spacing vapart of adjacent rolls is `determined point, suitable mechanism acts v.to start' the motors 92 and cause the adjacent rolls riodically thus moving the rolls.

-electric motors Q2, one of left of Fig. 9.

.6 effected in regular sequence beginning at both ends of the series.

In the construction illustrated a suitable framework having track bars 88 yat each side is suitably supported as by vertical standards. 8| well above the floor. This framework carries at each side a plurality of similar trolleys each shown as consisting of a vertical bar 82 having a head 83 in which is journaled a pair of trolley wheels riding in the track 80. Each bar 82 at its lower end has rigidly secured thereto and extending in each direction horizontally'there'- from a link 85 with the ends of the links slotted and the ends of adjacent links overlapped laterally as will be seen from the plan view in Fig. 8.

vThe rolls 35 are indicated of the same construction and operation as illustrated in Fig. 3 and previously described. The shafts 81, corresponding to the shafts I3 and l5 shown in Fig. 3, are supported in the slots of the links with a trolley located between each adjacent pair oi links and with the shafts 8'! extending through both links where the links overlap.` Since the shaft 8l at the end of the roll carrying the motor does not rotate it is necessary to provide some means for preventing rotation and for that purpose each roll is shown as provided with a hub 83 secured to the shaft 81 at the said en d and having a flat surface sliding on a horizontally arranged guide bar 89 forming a part of the framework.

When the end link elements of the series are pushed the rolls are brought to a position such as illustrated in Fig. 9 where they are spaced to support and advance in sheet form the bre fed thereto. When the end link elements are pulled the rolls beginning at the end are spaced apart in regular sequence and act to separate the sheet of nbre into sections.

Since the series of rolls is, as previously pointed out, a very long series, it is desirable in this type of apparatus to divide the rolls into two series, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, it being understood that the four rolls shown in each series are but illustrative ,in each case of a far greater number. With the rolls thus divided into two series the end link elements at both ends of the entire series are simultaneously pushed to bring the rolls into the position illustrated in Fig. 9 and pulled to bring the rolls into the position illustrated in Fig. 10. Any suitable means may be employed for. pe-

As illustrated the end link elements are shown as connected to rack bars 9B operated by gears 9| driven by which is shown at the With the rolls arranged in therrst position, as shown in Fig. 9, the fibre is 4fed 4thereto by any suitable mechanismsuch as the endless apron or convyeor 93. The rolls driven by their motors all rotate in the same direction, as previously described, and act continuously to .advance the fibre in sheet form. When the leading edge of the fibre, as before, has reached a prein regular sequence to be spaced furtherapart, or to a position such as shown in Fig.' 10,-and thereupon the rolls act to separate the sheet of bre into sections and discharge these 'sections while still advancing downward. Then thev operation of the motor is reversed and the rolls-returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 9. .Thus it, will be seen that the sheet'ofnbre .fed

abete@ to the conveyor is constantly advancing until it reaches the oor or support beneath the apparatus .to form the blend. This advancing movement therefore occurs while the sheet of libre is being separated into sections and in this form of the `invention the separation into sections is effected by a relative movement, in this case a relative bodily movement, and in this case with the bodily movement of the rolls taking place while they remain inthe horizontal plane and are separated horizontally in regular sequence, all of which takes place while the fibre is still advancing.

Having `thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is;

l. An apparatus for blending nbre comprising .a series of parallel rolls, means for rotating all the rolls only in one direction. means for -mount- .ing adjacent rolls forrelative bodily movement while remaining parallel between a position in which all vthe rolls are in a substantially horizontal plane and spaced to support and advance `in sheet form the fibre fed thereto and a second vposition to which the adjacent rolls have been displaced by the said relative bodily movement, said movement acting to separate the sheet of -fibre into sections thereby to discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means for periodically effecting the said relative movement oi' the rolls between the said two positions.

2. An apparatus for blending iibre as defined `in claim 1, together with means actuated by the sheet of fibre advanced by the rolls when in the first position acting to initiate the operation of the said means for periodically eiecting the said relative movement. y

kIi. An apparatus for blending bre comprising a series of parallel rolls. means for rotating all the rolls only in one direction, means for mounting adjacent rolls for relative bodily movement while remaining parallel between a position in which all the rolls are in a substantially horizontal plane and spaced to support and advance in sheet form the fibre fed thereto and a second position to which the adjacent rolls have been displaced by the said relative bodily movement,

`said movement acting to separate the sheet of libre into sections thereby to discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means actuated, each time the sheet of fibre advanced by the rolls when in the iirst position reaches a predetermined point, to move the rolls to the lsecond position and, after the discharge of the fibre, move the rolls to the rst position.

fi. An apparatus for blending Yfibre as defined Y #in claim 1, `in which the means for periodically eiecting the said relative movement of the krolls `acts to cause the rolls to move in the said `horizontal plane.

5. An apparatus for blending bre as dened in claim 1, in which the means vfor periodically effecting the said relative movement of the rolls acts -to cause `therolls to-move in regular sequence in the said'horizontal plane.

6. lAn apparatus for blending iibre as deiined `Atwo series of parallel rolls `with the rolls of one series alternating with the rolls of the other series. means for lrotating all the -rolls only in Acnc-direction, means for feeding nbre on -to-thev lsections and discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means for periodically eiecting the relative movement of the two series of rolls between the said two positions.

8. An apparatus for blending fibre as delined in claim 7, in which the means for periodically effecting relative movement of the two series of rolls acts to cause the rolls `of a series moved to .move simultaneously.

9. An apparatus for blending libre comprising two series of parallel rolls with the rolls of one series alternating with the rolls of the other series, means for rotating all the rolls only in one direction, means -for feeding libre on to the rolls, means for mounting the said two series of rolls for relative bodily movement while remaining parallel between a position in which all the rolls are in a substantially horizontal plane and spaced to support and advance in sheet form the libre fed thereto, and a second position in which the rolls of one series are displaced vertically from the said plane and the two series of rolls act to separate the sheet of libre into sections and discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means for periodically eiiecting the relative movement of the two Vseries of rolls between the said two Dosi,- tions.

10. An apparatus for blending fibre comprising two series of parallel rolls with the rolls of one series alternating with the -rolls of the other series, means for rotating all the rolls only in one direction, a frame, supports on the frame mounting one series of rolls in xed position in a substantially horizontal plane, movable supports lfor the other series of rolls movably mounted von the fra-maand acting in one position to maintain the said series of rolls in the same plane as the fixed series and acting when moved to a second position to raise the said series above the fixed series of rolls, the rolls of both series when in the said horizontal plane being spaced to support and advance fibre in sheet form fed thereto, and when in the second position acting to eiiect .the separation of the sheet of libre into sectionsand discharge the sections, while advancing. downward, and means for periodically moving the movable supports from the first to the second and back tothe first position.

11. An apparatus for blending fibre as dened in claim 10 in which the movable supports are bell crank levers fulcrumed on-the frame with the rolls mounted on the upper arms.

l2. An apparatus for blending libre as defined in claim 10 in which the movable supports are horizontal plane, means for rotating al1 the rolls in one direction, link elements connecting adjacent rolls at each side of the series acting to hold the rolls either in a position spaced to support and advance in sheet form the fibre fed thereto or in a second position in which ad* jacent rolls are further spaced and act to separate the sheet of bre into sections and discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means acting `periodically to pu11 end link elements of the series to move the rolls from the rst to the second position and after the discharge of the sections of libre acting to push the said link elements to move the rolls from the second to the first position.

14. An apparatus for y,blending fibre comprising a series of parallel rolls having their ends journaled and mounted to slide in a substantially horizontal plane, means for rotating all the rolls in one direction. link elements connecting adjacent rolls at each side of the series acting to hold the rolls either in a position spaced to support and advance in sheet form the fibre fed thereto o1' in a second position in which ad jacent rolls are further spaced and act to sepa,-

V rate the sheet of libre into sections and discharge the sections, while advancing, downward, and means acting periodically to pull the end link elements at both ends of the series in opposite directions to move the rolls from the first to the second position and, after the discharge of the bre, acting to push the said link elements to move the rolls from the second to the rst position.

LESLIE A. RUNTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,434,917 Sewall et al Nov. 7. 1922 2,433,790 `Senior Dec. 30, 1947 2,439,520 Miller Apr. 13, 1948 2,505,690 Senior et al Apr. 25, 1950 

